ANNUAL
REPORT 2024
Mission
Mission
Our Mission is to change lives
and save lives across the
state of New Jersey.
Vision
Vision
Our Vision is to be the �rst
choice for individuals, families,
communities, and organizations in
need of care.
Values
Values
Our Values are compassion,
quality, and belonging through
innovative, integrated care.
Promise
Promise
Our Promise is to remain
rooted in our mission through a
trauma-informed culture.
Hope. Heal. Thrive.
Hope. Heal. Thrive.
We o�er a full spectrum of mental health,
prevention, psychiatric, and substance use
services for every age and stage of life.
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A Message from
Tara Chalakani, PsyD
Chief Executive Oècer
This past year has proved to be
another year of lifesaving successes and
accolades for Preferred Behavioral Health
Group!
In addition to serving more than 27,000 unduplicated individuals,
PBHG’s reach expanded to college campuses, new counties, and
through partnerships with key nonpro�t organizations statewide.
We have won numerous awards as an organization – Nonpro�t
of the Year, Best Places to Work, Empowering Women in the
Workplace, and Workplace Wellness Heroes to name a few. Our
sta� have also won several awards for their stellar work in the
community.
For the �rst time since the COVID-19 pandemic, our key
positions remain �lled with very low turnover rates, which are
unprecedented in healthcare. Our client and sta� satisfaction
rates are at an all-time high. We are already hard at work making
sure that 2025 will be an even more impactful year for our clients.
Every sta� member at PBHG possesses a passion and dedication
to our mission unlike any other. We are also supported by a
diverse and talented Board that is fully invested in our longevity
and continued success.
I am humbled to be the leader of such an impressive and
respected organization.
PBHG’s Justice Involved Services Program
hosted a conference at PBHG’s Joseph A.
Miller Training Center to provide mental
health education and resources to probation
and pre-trial probation o�cers working with
individuals who are involved in the justice
system.
PBHG’s Prevention First
program, which leads the
Prevention Coalition of
Monmouth County, uses
purple and white �ag displays
to honor lives lost to overdose,
raise awareness of the crisis,
and inspire action for change.
Prevention First and the Black Poster Project
teamed up to open “Silent Memorials” to
communities, state-wide, to raise awareness
about the prevalence of substance use and
remember hundreds of beautiful souls who lost
the battle of addiction.
PBHG’s LifeSet Program presented at the Youth
Villages’ Achieving Success Partner Summit in
Chicago in September.
Their presentation was titled Sowing Successful
Seeds: Cultivating Brighter Futures While
Encapsulating Youth Experiences.
In 2024, NJ4S Monmouth and Ocean
delivered over 600 services and
served over 35,000 people throughout
schools across the state of New
Jersey!
A Message from
Randy J. Minniear
Chairman, Board of Trustees
The saying “your health is your
wealth” is a familiar proverb. And
as the stigma around mental health
continues to erode, how health is being de�ned
is becoming a much more wholistic concept, with
most now accepting mental, physical and spiritual
health as equally important components. Another
increasingly familiar term is integrated health.
Another “nod” to the acceptance that “health” is so
much more than what it was once considered to be.
In this regard, Preferred Behavioral HEALTH Group,
has become a leader in embracing the integrated
health movement by providing some of the highest
quality behavioral and mental health care in the
state.
I do not believe it’s coincidence that PBHG’s
accelerated e�ort to expand mental health support
as a key part of the “whole health” or “integrated
health” movement has occurred under the trauma
informed philosophy of Dr. Tara Chalakani and her
leadership team. For the past year, the values of
PBHG, “compassion, quality, and belonging through
innovative, integrated care” have echoed across
social media, industry symposiums, seminars
and throughout the community by the leaders,
clinicians, and support sta� each and every day.
Make no mistake, this is a movement that is
resulting in removing stigma, increasing access to
care and saving lives.
To every member of the PBHG community, I
commend you for being leaders this past year in
this e�ort and bringing the “wealth” of health to all
that you touch.
OUR MESSAGES TO YOU
PBHG PROGRAMS IN ACTION
MAYA
Being at Preferred helped
me with my self-esteem,
con�dence, getting me out
there, managing anxiety
and depression.
“They taught me how
to open up to friends
and family. And I am
very grateful that I
came here!”
How We Changed Maya’s Life ...
How We Changed Maya’s Life ...
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PREFERRED CHANGE MAKERS
PBHG: PASSIONATE, BIG HEARTED,
HARDWORKING, GENUINE
As a state-wide provider, PBHG
takes every opportunity to educate
youth, teens, parents, seniors, and
community partners about the
array of services available through
PBHG and other healthcare
providers.
Prevention First partnered with Senator
Vin Gopal to develop a resource van
to meet the community where they
are, bringing essential resources and
education, helping young people and their
families steer clear of substance use.
We deeply appreciate every gesture of support from our many community
partners who have made a meaningful di�erence in so many lives. Through
your resources and expertise, PBHG has expanded our reach to thousands of
individuals in need. Your generosity—through time, skills, and donations—makes
you an integral part of our mission.
Together, we can change lives, and save lives.
Gaming Laboratories International
purchases and wraps holiday gifts for
new parents in PBHG’s Healthy Families
Program.
Ocean First partnered with PBHG
for a volunteer day, helping build a
happier, healthier community.
The Robert Anthony Melita
Memorial awarded two
scholarships to LifeSet and
Project Independence/
Connect to Home, programs
aligned with DCF’s mission
to promote housing stability,
economic self-su�ciency,
and healthy lifestyles. The
RAM Memorial transforms
lives, guiding young adults
toward brighter futures and
raising awareness about
heart health.
Holiday Express, a local non-pro�t,
partnered with PBHG to bring
holiday cheer to adults in PBHG’s
Partial Care program, for those with
serious mental illness.
Campi Dental generously donated
13 backpacks �lled to the brim with
school supplies for the new Asbury
Park High School SBYS Program.
Our events play a vital role in raising awareness
about our programs and generating essential
funds for special initiatives.
This year, our prestigious annual golf outing
at the Hollywood Golf Club was a tremendous
success, honoring Kim Guadagno for her
passionate work at the Mercy Center.
We also introduced an exciting new event, the
Mental Health Awareness Month Friendraiser
where guests were invited to bring a friend to
learn how they may partner, access care, or
share in our life-saving mission.
A heartfelt thank you to all our sponsors and
attendees for making these events memorable
and impactful!
Our team of nearly 500 comes together for fun-�lled staff picnics and
Wellness retreat days, creating memories and celebrating each other
for the “live-saving” work we do. These days are �lled with laughter,
meaningful conversations, and a shared sense of pride in our mission.
Moments like these remind us of the incredible impact we have as an
organization and the importance of supporting one another along the way.
PBHG is honored to be the
select provider for Monmouth
and Ocean County Prosecutor’s
O�ces Crisis Intervention Training,
providing de-escalation techniques
and strategies for preventing
unnecessary arrests.
PBHG’s STAR program, an in-
community substance use
program, was featured to o�er
invaluable insights into this crucial
topic.
To learn more about PBHG’s
services or access care, scan here:
PBHG’s TEAM
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Revenue
$32,309,998
Individual/Family
Fees
42%
Other
1%
Grants
57%
FY 2023 Revenue by Sources of Funding
FY 2023 Expenditure
by Expense Categories
Administration
12%
Programs and
Direct Services
88%
Expense
FISCAL YEAR 2023
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104
birth
from
to
years
old
27,000
We provided service for over
individuals last year
specialized programs
70
in
certified and professional staff members
480+
by
15
at
locations and in many
of the local schools
For every $1.00 received,88¢ goes directly to those we are serving.
NJBIZ Health Care Heroes
PBHG is proud to be honored as one of NJBIZ Health Care Heroes in
the Mental Health category.
NJBIZ Business of Year
PBHG recieved the NJ Business of the Year for demonstrating
exceptional leadership, growth, and innovation in the state.
NJBIZ Empowering Women
The Empowering Women Award recognized PBHG’s Leadership for
exceptional advocacy and commitment to inspiring and empowering
others in the workplace and beyond.
NJBIZ Best Places to Work in NJ
PBHG is thrilled to be selected as one of the Best Places to Work in
New Jersey for 2024!
Silver Gull Award for
Non-Profit of the Year
This award, presented by the Monmouth Ocean Development
Counsil, honors individuals, corporations and organizations that are
making a di�erence in the way business is done at the Jersey Shore.
Dr. Chalakani, CEO, is focused on ending the stigma of mental illness and addiction by
educating people statewide and beyond about available resources.
As a respected expert in the �eld of behavioral health, Dr. Chalakani is often invited to
speak on on local and national news.
Dr. Chalakani is frequently published in Forbes as a member of their prestigious Non-
Pro�t Council and leader of Forbes’ Women Executives group. Most recently, the New
Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies presented Dr. Chalakani
with a Transformational Leadership award in DEI.
Valerie Ortense
Valerie Ortense was selected
as a Phenomenal Woman
under 40 by the Girl Scouts
of the Jersey shore for her
dedication to community
service, proven leadership
skills, and consistently going
above and beyond in personal
and professional roles.
Phenomenal Women are go-
getters, leaders, innovators,
and role models.
Jonathan Grant
We are thrilled to announce that Jonathan Grant
has been chosen as one of the ten recipients of the
Achieving Success Partner Summit scholarship, by
Youth Villages, for his life-changing work with youth
involved in the NJ Department of Children and
Families’ foster care system.
Laura Macalik
We are proud that our very own Laura Macalik received
the Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) Case
Manager Award during New Jersey Association of
Mental Health and Addiction Agencies’ (NJAMHAA) 2024
ICMS Conference. Laura was recognized for providing
outstanding service to ICMS clients and the community.
COMPANY AWARDS
PBHG’S AWARD-WINNING EMPLOYEES
PBHG’S CEO, DR. TARA CHALAKANI
We are deeply honored to receive such remarkable recognition.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Randy J. Minniear
Chair
John Maldjian, Esq.
Vice Chair
Phyllis Alongi, Esq.
Secretary
Lynn Maurer
Treasurer
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Julie Vanore, MPA
Chief Administrative O�cer
Peter Kisylia, MBA, CPA
Chief Financial O�cer
*CARF has accredited PBHG for the following programs: Co-Occurring Partial Care, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Services for adults,
Partial Care mental health services for adults, Outpatient mental health for adults, older adults (Senior Guidance), and children/adolescents (PCCF),
Level A & A+ group homes for community housing, SAIL, Preferred Employment Services, and Intensive Outpatient Treatment and Support Services
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Phyllis Alongi, PhD
Michael J. Kokes
Suzanne Parchment
Benjamin Waldron
Sandra Grebel, LCSW
Vice President of Children and
Family Services
Laura Messina, LCSW, LCADC
Vice President of Adult Services
Michelle Hague, LCSW, LCADC
Vice President of Integrated Care
Tara Chalakani, PsyD
Chief Executive O�cer
Felix Galler, MD
Medical Director
Valerie Ortense, MBA
Vice President of Strategic Developement
Your continuing support makes our mission possible.
Scan here to make your donation now.
Hope. Heal. Thrive.
Hope. Heal. Thrive.
Philip K. Beachem
Craig Coleman
Derry Holland
Charles Melita
David Salewski
Stephen Trimboli, Esq.
Stephen Trimboli, Esq.
Jennifer Godoski
Suzanne Corson